Brief

Oct. 15, 2001

THE FOUNDATION

“Only lay down true principles, and adhere to them inflexibly. Do not be frightened into their surrender by the alarms of the timid, or the croakings of wealth against the ascendancy of the people….The true foundation of republican government is the equal right of every citizen, in his person and property, and in their management. Try by this, as a tally, every provision of our Constitution, and see if it hangs directly on the will of the people….” –Thomas Jefferson

INSIGHT

“In the [Leftist] society the number of pacifists will either be large enough to cripple the state as a belligerent, or not…. If it is large enough, then you have handed over the state which does tolerate pacifists to its totalitarian neighbor who does not. Pacifism of this kind is taking the straight road to a world in which there will be no pacifists.” –C.S. Lewis

GOOD NEWS

“Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers.” (Psalm 1:1)

“‘No weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and this is their vindication from me,’ declares the Lord.” (Isaiah 54:17)

“For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.” (Matthew 18:20)

“If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31-32)

“My son, preserve sound judgment and discernment, do not let them out of your sight; they will be life for you, an ornament to grace your neck.” (Proverbs 3:21-22)

“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” (James 1:27)

“The face of the Lord is against those who do evil, to cut off the memory of them from the earth.” (Psalm 34:16)

ICTUS IMPRIMIS

“Faith is not an opinion, but a certitude. ‘The substance of things hoped for,’ says the Apostle – not the phantasies of empty conjecture. You hear the substance. You may not dispute on the faith as you please; you may not wander here and there through the wastes of opinion, the byways of error. By the name, ‘substance,’ something certain and fixed is placed before you; you are enclosed between boundaries, you are restrained within unchanging limits.” –St. Bernard of Clairvaux

FAMILY

“[Leftists] treat the Ten Commandants as a multiple choice test. In judging such liberal heroes as the Clintons and the Rev. Jesse Jackson, they boast that getting seven out of 10 right is pretty good: ‘We’re all human.’ ‘Everyone does it.’ ‘Let he who hath not (fill in the blank) throw the first stone.’ –R. Emmett Tyrrell

CULTURE

"The fact is that this country is hurting and grieving. It is perplexed, frustrated, and confused about what needs to be done next. This is the time that we can come alongside and offer compassion, mercy, understanding, and good instead of evil. And we can contribute to the public debate that will inform our nation’s actions in a way that reflects God’s standards of justice.” –Charles Colson

LIBERTY

“Protecting civil liberties when people are concerned with security requires more judgment than the ACLU recently showed when it demanded that a public school take down a flag with the inscription, ‘God bless America.’ If the ACLU foolishly places civil liberties in opposition to public expressions of patriotism, civil liberties will take a big hit. Indeed, it will look like the ACLU is trying to stamp out God, not defend our liberty. Good judgment is always in short supply. In times of crisis, it can altogether disappear. We need to keep this in mind and consider whether it is better to restrict immigration instead of our civil liberties.” –Paul Craig Roberts

OPINION IN BRIEF

“The George W. Bush who addressed the nation at a prime-time news conference [Thursday] appeared to be a different man from the one who was just barely elected president last year. He seemed more confident, determined and sure of his purpose and was in full command of the complex array of political and military challenges that he faces. … As he reflected on the sorrow, compassion and determination that have swept the country since those horrifying hours on the morning of Sept. 11, he seemed to be a leader whom the nation could follow in these difficult times.” –New York Times

Memo to the Leftmedia: George Bush is not a “different man from the one who was just barely elected president last year.” He just faces different circumstances – as do you. And that explains the new clarity with which you see President Bush.

EDITORIAL EXEGESIS

“The invocation of God’s blessings is no longer something to be embarrassed about. And … children across the country will not have to be ashamed to simultaneously say the pledge of allegiance – that symbol of patriotism long buried beneath too many layers of political correctness. The Constitution has not been suspended. Perhaps for the first time in decades, its spirit is being revived. It is a spirit that upholds the freedom of every man to seek solace from God, that celebrates the triumph of heroism in the midst of tragedy – and that finds patriotism worth defending.” –Washington Times

THE GIPPER

“There is no security, no safety, in the appeasement of evil. It must be the core of Western policy that there be no sanctuary for terror. And to sustain such a policy, free men and free nations must unite and work together.” –Ronald Reagan

GOVERNMENT

“Finally, as the President stated, we will continue to secure liberty, as we secure this nation. Liberty is the most precious gift we offer to our citizens. It’s what the terrorists fear most, what they tried to destroy on September 11th. We will work to ensure that the essential liberty of the American people is protected, that terrorists will not take away our way of life.” –Tom Ridge at his swearing-in ceremony as Director of the Office of Homeland Security **Memo to Mr. Ridge: Liberty is an unalienable, God-given right, which the government is instituted to protect, not something Washington bureaucrats can dole out and restrict like candy to children.

POLITICAL FUTURES

“The Democratic National Committee has made an unusual ‘emergency’ request of the Federal Election Commission, asking the agency to allow it to bend rules related to soft money as the party committee deals with fundraising shortfalls in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Common Cause immediately blasted the request as an attempt to broaden the soft-money loophole. ‘The basis for this request … is the national emergency which has made it appropriate for the DNC to suspend its fundraising events and mail solicitations since the tragic events of Sept. 11,’ DNC General Counsel Joseph Sandler wrote in a Sept. 28 letter to the FEC. Specifically, the DNC is asking the FEC to extend the 60-day window for soft-money transfers for allocable expenses to 120 days.” –Roll Call

FOR THE RECORD

“We should have a computerized database of all aliens entering the United States, whether they are tourists, students or workers, and a tracking system that flags the file when a visa time expires. Aliens should be required to carry smart ID cards that contain biometric identifiers, the terms of their visas, and a record of their border crossings and travels within our country, similar to the rubber stamps used in all passports. Airports should be equipped with the machines to swipe the smart card every time an alien boards a plane. Dumb questions like ‘Has your luggage been under your control since you packed it?’ should be replaced with useful questions like ‘Are you a U.S. citizen?’” –Phyllis Schlafly

Memo to the Leftist front: If you think Mrs. Schlafly’s recommendation are too harsh, Time magazine will report this week that only 3% resident Pakistani aliens support U.S. actions against the Taliban and Al Qaeda. (Can you say “Jihad enemies within!”)

SELECT READER COMMENTS

“The suggestion in The Federalist of reserving the forward most seat on any aircraft for law enforcement or military personnel in transit is brilliant – but then, that would explain why the FAA has not already implemented it!”

“Having served as a combatant, Marine, it occurs to me that there should be a rather mor drastic solution to ‘Congressional leaks of classified information’ than just exposing them. They are guilty of high treason!!!!!!!!”Editor’s Reply: Indeed, but let’s expose them first. Each member of Congress has sworn to “protect and defend.” Of course, that is the same oath Bill Clinton took, and his traitorous supporters in the House, who voted against his impeachment, are likely among the cadre of those spilling information to Leftmedia – and the enemy…if you can distinguish the two. Hark – is that the theme song from “Hang ‘em high”?

“It does no service to Conservatism to make snide remarks regarding Governor Ridge’s comments regarding one group of Americans confronting others whom are different. That is 'terrorism.’ This comment in the Federalist was totally out of line. This is not the American Way!”Editor’s Reply: For a better indication of Mr. Ridge’s considerable confusion about “the American way,” please see his remark in the government section above. Words matter, and Mr. Ridge needs to choose his much more carefully!

“While I support pretty much everything Bush has done in response to the 9-11 attack, I take issue with your journal calling Democrats ‘Sociocrats.’ Bush wants to spend billions to bolster the economy. If this isn’t socialism, what is?”Editor’s Reply: Actually, he wants to lower taxes immediately so we can spend billions to bolster the economy – hardly “socialism.” The SOCIOCRATS, on the other hand, do, indeed, want to “save” the economy with government spending.

“First, let me say The Federalist is the clearest perspective out there. The reason for this letter is my growing disgust for CNN. I’m presently teaching English in Vietnam. CNN and CNBC are the only English language news services available on TV here. However, I have grown weary of CNN’s liberal anti-American bias so I have quit watching it. Please expose CNN’s pro-Iraqi and Taliban reporting.”Editor’s Reply: Every week…!

“Maybe Hillary Rodham-Clinton was so sour at the President’s joint address because she saw her presidential aspirations vanishing before her eyes. As long as America had no morals, she stood a chance. As long as people care more about smooth politics than right and wrong, there was hope.”

THE LAST WORD

In Federalist edition 01-41 Brief, we asked our readers: Since the ACLU insists that “God Bless America” must be “replaced immediately,” please suggest a motto that would meet the ACLU’s criterion of “pluralism and tolerance.”

Here are your “Top Ten” responses:

1. All we need is love.
2. Yo – All Y'all Be Blessed.
3. WHAZZZUUUUUUP!!!
4. Whatever!
5. Kumbaya
6. “In God We Trust.” (Let them weasel their way out of that one.)
7. “May the deity of your choice, or lack thereof, bestow his or her capable good wishes, if such a thing exists in your estimation, upon the country, region, or planet for which you personally have the deepest feeling.”
8. “This Space Available” Bless America
9. Good Luck, America
10. Just relocate the whole bunch (the ACLU) to “Afgonistan” and let them figure out a motto over there.

And a few others….
How about “Gesundheit”?
“Big Bang” Bless America
Don’t Shoot!
May The Farce Be With You!
It’s A Pretty Flag, Isn’t It?
Eat More Tofu.
Workers of the World, Unite!
“To whom it may concern” Bless America
I don’t know, ask the Madison, WI, school board…….

"If Congress can do whatever in their discretion can be done by money, and will promote the General Welfare, the Government is no longer a limited one, possessing enumerated powers, but an indefinite one, subject to particular exceptions." —James Madison (1792)

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